Home Hospice Association
Creating safe & affirming homes for 2SLGBTQ+ elders in care settings
Everyone deserves to feel at home in their community. For many 2SLGBTQ+ people, asking for care can come with a difficult question: Will I be safe being fully myself? No Place Like Home is working to ensure the answer is yes. Together with 2SLGBTQ+ people and communities, we are helping create a future where identity is respected, chosen family is recognized, and no one faces serious illness, caregiving, aging, dying, death, or grief without understanding and support. Because everyone deserves to be known, included, and cared for as the person they are - wherever they call home.
No one should have to hide who they are to receive end-of-life care
Through compassionate support across the domains of care (planning, meaning making, at the bedside and grief), we help people, families, and communities prepare for and navigate caregiving, serious illness, dying, death, and grief without anyone having to hide who they are.
Providing the same care to everyone does not always result in everyone feeling equally understood, respected, or included. Meaningful end-of-life care recognizes each person’s identity, lived experience, relationships, and chosen family, and responds to what matters most to them
About
No Place Like Home
No Place Like Home ensures that every 2SLGBTQ+ individual can live with dignity, knowing they are valued and respected in their care environments.
Having endured a lifetime of struggle against repressive laws and societal rejection, today's older 2SLGBTQ+ individuals have fought tirelessly for recognition and rights. As they approach the later stages of their lives, many carry the weight of decades of adversity, calling for our compassion, support, and immediate action. No Place Like Home answers this call.
One of the main concerns this program addresses is the fear and experiences of “forced re-closeting” for 2SLGBTQ+ older adults in a care setting. This reluctant concealment of their identity is often adopted to avoid discrimination or inferior care. While this may offer some protection from overt mistreatment or subtle neglect, it also leads to increased anxiety and social isolation.
Transgender older adults are especially fearful of discrimination and loss of autonomy in care settings, with high rates of reported mistreatment exacerbating these anxieties.
Meanwhile, because their bodies may not conform to conventional gender expectations, many trans elders in care settings are unable to protect themselves through non-disclosure. The absence of transgender-inclusive policies in facilities and staff resistance to trans-affirming care pose significant mental health challenges for transgender residents.
No Place Like Home tackles these issues by providing education and tools for family members (biological or chosen), friends, front line workers, caregivers, and informal support persons who want to better understand how they can advocate for the identity, safety, and dignity of someone they care about. We work towards promoting practices that respect and affirm 2SLGBTQ+ identities, and fostering a culture of compassion and support. By recognizing and addressing the specific needs of 2SLGBTQ+ adults, we aim to set a standard for truly inclusive and equitable care.
"We worry about actual physical harm happening to us. Not only from staff, but from other residents, because remember, those straight people who were harassing us and beating us back then are now our ages too, right? Now we are the same age in long-term facilities together. That kind of hatred doesn't just disappear."
- Leslie Lee Kham, LGBTQ activist, Ottawa ON
Programs
How No Place Like Home Helps
Inclusive Advance Care Planning (ACP) Workshop:
Research shows that heteronormative biases in care planning can discourage 2SLGBTQ+ participation, as many documents assume traditional family structures that often don’t apply to 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences. Despite the availability of legal tools in many Western countries like enduring power of attorney and advance healthcare directives to protect 2SLGBTQ+ people’s wishes, there is widespread confusion and a lack of awareness among 2SLGBTQ+ seniors about these options. Guiding Your 2SLGBTQ+Client Through Inclusive Planning workshop ensures that same-sex and same-gender partners are treated as legitimate decision-makers, and that chosen families are included in the ACP process. In this workshop, we ensure that 2SLGBTQ+residents know how to exercise their rights and document their care preferences, giving them some peace of mind in the event that they lose the capacity to communicate their wishes.
2SLGBTQ+ Affirming "Life in Review” Retreat:
The "Life in Review" Retreat and workbook provide 2SLGBTQ+ residents in long-term care facilities with a meaningful opportunity to plan their legacies and reflect on and celebrate their lives. This half-day retreat honours the rich histories and unique experiences of 2SLGBTQ+individuals, acknowledging the struggles and triumphs that have shaped their journeys. Legacy planning is a deeply personal process, encompassing how you want to be remembered and what you wish to pass on to future generations. Guided by a trusted advocate familiar with 2SLGBTQ+ experiences, participants can safely document their personal values, write letters to loved ones, and make decisions about inheritance and charitable donations. Meanwhile, the workbook not only helps in planning legacies but also serves as a testament to the courage and resilience of 2SLGBTQ+ elders, ensuring their stories are cherished and remembered.
2SLGBTQ+ Death Doula Support
2SLGBTQ+ Death Doula Support is a crucial component of the No Place Like Home program, providing specialized care for 2SLGBTQ+ residents in care facilities as they navigate their end-of-life journey. Our trained Death Doulas are skilled in supporting within the four domains of care: planning, legacy, vigil, and grief. Becoming an integral part of the care team, our Death Doulas work directly with the individual facing death, their loved ones, and other care team members. Their role is to ensure that every aspect of the end-of-life experience is handled with dignity, compassion, and culturally sensitive human connection. This comprehensive support helps to create a more affirming and comforting environment, addressing the unique needs of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.
At the Bedside Care
'At the Bedside' care ensures that 2SLGBTQ+ residents in care settings are not alone in their final moments. Our dedicated 2SLGBTQ+ Death Doulas offer respite care and vigil sitting for those with limited family, friends, or community support. This service directly supports individuals who are facing death, providing comfort and companionship in their last hours and minutes. By creating a compassionate and affirming presence, our volunteers help foster dignity, peace, and a sense of belonging during one of life's most vulnerable transitions. We honour each person's identity, wishes, and lived experiences, ensuring they are seen, heard, and valued until the very end. Through this care, we strive to make sure that no one faces death in isolation and that every individual is met with kindness, respect, and human connection.
Meet the Team
Our No Place Like Home Program Team
Callista English
No Place Like Home Team Lead
she/her
Callista is a dedicated and people-focused professional with a growing pathway at Home Hospice Association. She previously worked in the funeral industry, where she gained valuable experience supporting individuals and families during some of their most difficult and emotional moments. This experience played a key role in shaping her passion for working with people and reinforced her commitment to empathy and care in all interactions. Now, Callista leads the No Place Like Home initiative. In this work, she helps ensure that 2SLGBTQIA+ community members are supported through the planning process and have access to appropriate resources and guidance in care settings. She is also actively involved in initiatives supporting Dying, Death, and Grief Literacy, including the rollout of the OLA Library Partnership, which aims to improve access to education and resources within the community. She is committed to continued growth and learning and is enthusiastic about contributing to organizations like HHA that prioritize people, culture, and meaningful support systems.
Get Involved
Work with Us
Are you passionate about supporting 2SLGBTQ+ elders in care settings?
Join our No Place Like Home working group to take part in research, program development, fundraising, and help shape the direction of this initiative. You're welcome to attend our meetings to see if our work aligns with your interests. Please note that all general working group activities are currently volunteer-based.
As funding and program reach grow, paid opportunities may become available for direct support roles, such as facilitating workshops in LTC facilities, providing personalized end-of-life care, and sitting vigil.
To learn more or get involved, contact Callista, our team lead, at:
Get Involved
Support Us
Support 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in receiving the compassionate and dignified care they deserve by donating to the No Place Like Home program. Your contribution helps create inclusive and affirming environments in care settings, ensuring that every individual can live their years with pride and respect.
Do you work in a long-term care facility or care setting? Partner with No Place Like Home to ensure inclusive and equitable end-of-life care for all your residents. Your facility can benefit from our staff training, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming workshops, integration of Death Doulas, and vigil support for residents. Together, we can create a truly supportive community for everyone!
No Place Like Home also has a free 2SLGBTQ+ virtual Resource Centre. Our Resource Centre is a growing collection of tools, educational materials, and community resources designed to support organizations, caregivers, and community members in creating more inclusive and affirming environments for 2SLGBTQ+ older adults. The Resource Centre brings together information focused on improving awareness, understanding, and support within long-term care, retirement living, hospice, and other care settings. Access to the No Place Like Home Resource Centre is available by request.
For more information on how we can best support you, please contact Callista, our team lead at:
Our Partners
Pride and Remembrance Foundation.